In Turnabout, Oversight Gets a Subpoena  From Clemens

Baseball great Roger Clemens just threw a curveball at the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.The former pitcher, who faces criminal charges stemming from his testimony at a 2008 hearing on performance enhancing drugs in Major League Baseball, issued a subpoena to the Oversight Committee on Thursday.Federal prosecutors charged Clemens in August with six counts, including obstruction of Congress, perjury and making false statements related to his 2008 testimony, when he denied having used drugs.The subpoena, addressed to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and not a particular Member, seeks any "interview summaries, notes and memoranda" related to the February 2008 hearing, as well as any communications between 20 individuals and the committee, including former slugger Jose Canseco, who wrote a book about steroid use in baseball.It is not clear, however, whether the panel will actually produce any documents. The House and Senate typically seek to quash such requests, asserting the Constitution's Speech or Debate clause, which protects legislative activity.Committee spokesman Kurt Bardella said in a statement, "The committee intends to consult with the House General Counsel's office and will meet its obligations in this matter."The irony of Clemens' move is that Democrats have raised concerns that new Oversight Chairman Darrell Issa plans to pepper the administration with subpoenas on an array of investigations.

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March 13, 2015

Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call

Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., right, hugs Harold Schaitberger, General President of the International Association of Fire Fighters, after the Congressman spoke at the IAFF's Legislative Conference General Session at the Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill, March 9, 2015. The day featured addresses by members of Congress and Vice President Joe Biden.